Bell replaces injured Root in England ICC World T20 Cup squad

London, Mar. 11: England batsman Joe Root has been replaced by batsman Ian Bell in the team ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh following Roots thumb injury.

Root, who is also a frontline spinner in limited-overs cricket, fractured his thumb during England’s final match in the three-match one-day series against West Indies.

According to the BBC, Root was struck Root was struck by the third ball of his innings in the third one-day match last week, but went on to make 107 as England won by 25 runs and claimed the one-day series 2-1.

England suffered a 27-run defeat by West Indies in Root’s absence in first of the three Twenty 20 internationals in Barbados last weekend, the report added.

The International Cricket Council reportedly approved Root’s replacement by Bell, who has not played a Twenty20 international since January 2011.

Root, who has also emerged as a wicket-taking spinner in the shorter forms of the game for England, opened the bowling in all three one-day games against West Indies taking a combined 4-86 in the three games with a best of 2-15, the report added.

No timescale has been put on Root’s return from his thumb injury, with Yorkshire’s County Championship season starting next month, the report added. (ANI)